Watch Terminology Dictionary

The organization was formed in 1985 with the aim of passing on traditional watchmaking techniques. Its members are so-called "independent watchmakers," who are not affiliated with any manufacturer or supplier and who create watches with a small team of people. However, there are no strict criteria, and some watch manufacturer founders, such as François-Paul Journe, remain members. The current membership is 34, with five associate members and eight honorary members (as of January 2017). Japanese members include Hajime Asaoka and Masahiro Kikuno.